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We all need electricians, and electricians need extensive training to safely install, maintain, and repair electrical systems. If you want to join the electrical industry, you’ll be glad to know training is readily available throughout the Show-Me State.
The growing demand for electricians in Missouri — journeyman electricians, master electricians, electrical contractors, and electrical engineers — means you can feel confident that the time you put into training will pay off.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects a 17% growth rate in Missouri for electricians as compared with 6% nationwide over the next decade. There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. For instance, there are hundreds of electrician jobs in Missouri posted on Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
We’ve put together everything you need to know to get started.
Accredited Missouri Electrician Training Programs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Most electricians learn their trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship program. For each year of the program, apprentices typically receive 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as well as some technical instruction. Workers who gained electrical experience in the military or in the construction industry may qualify for a shortened apprenticeship based on their experience and testing. Some electricians start out by attending a technical school. Many technical schools offer programs related to circuitry, safety practices, and basic electrical information. Graduates of these programs usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.”
According to the BLS, some electricians enter apprenticeship programs after working as an electrician helper. The Home Builders Institute offers a pre-apprenticeship certificate training (PACT) program for eight construction trades, including electricians.
Electrical work performed in the state of Missouri requires a license. However, electrician licenses in Missouri are issued by individual cities and counties.
Some municipalities offer journeyman electrician licenses, while others skip that step and jump straight to issuing master electrician licenses or electrical contractor licenses. However, at the state level, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors does offer an optional statewide electrical contractors license.
Most people entering the electrician industry in Missouri learn on-the-job as an apprentice electrician either in a formal union or nonunion apprenticeship or by working for an electrical contractor and taking classes at a community college.
The following community colleges and training centers offer electrician classes in Missouri:
Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City
State Fair Community College in Sedalia
Mineral Area College in Park Hills
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau
Ranken Technical College in St. Louis
Missouri Apprenticeships
IBEW Local 257 in Jefferson City
IBEW Local 453 in Springfield
Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) of Greater St. Louis
Electrical Business: Many Missouri businesses provide the on-the-job training while relying on community colleges to provide the necessary classroom instruction to meet U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and/or DOPL apprenticeship standards.
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Electrician Degrees & Certificates
As you weigh the benefits of formal training at a trade school or technical college, you may want to speak with people in the field in the state where you intend to work. The licensing requirements vary from state to state, and some require a minimum amount of education, such as Missouri.
There’s typically a range of certificate and degree programs, but again most electricians enter an apprenticeship rather than a college program. Some electrical contractors may allow you to get hands-on training with them while also attending a college program at night or on the weekend. If you choose to start at a technical college, the time it takes to complete each kind of program and the cost of each are the most significant differences. The most common programs are:
Certificate Program – three to six months
Associate’s Degree – two years
Bachelor’s Degree – four years
Put simply, the longer the program, the more it costs. If you wish to be an electrical engineer, you’ll need at least a four-year bachelor’s degree. If this is a path that interests you, you may want to explore the Electrical Engineering Bachelor of Science degree at one of the four-year universities in Missouri such as:
University of Missouri in Columbia
As stated earlier, in many cases, formal education can pay off in the form of higher wages.
Typical Courses in Technical College Programs
Electrical programs at technical colleges are all intended to prepare students for careers in commercial, industrial, or residential electrical applications. All combine theory and the practical skills needed to do the job. Most encourage students to work in their field of interest while attending school. Some are intended to give students a base of knowledge to prepare them to be helpers and get that first job with a licensed electrician.
Typically, these programs include coursework in the fundamentals of the electrical trade. Classroom and laboratory experiences allow students to become proficient in the installation and maintenance of electrical wiring, transformers, A/C and D/C motor control circuit, instrumentation, and programmable logic controllers used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. They all cover safety and the National Electric Code (NEC). Among the most common classes offered in these programs are:
Foundations of Mathematics
Industrial Safety Procedures
Direct Current
Alternating Current
Electrical Prints, Schematics, and Symbols
Commercial Wiring
Residential Wiring
Electrical Controls
Diagnostic Troubleshooting
School Selection Criteria
There are a lot of things to consider when picking the right school and program.
Cost
Cost is, of course, at the top of the list. According to Community College Review, tuition at Missouri community colleges on average is $4,464 per year for in-state students and $6,120 for out-of-state students. However, many of the accredited electrical training programs listed here are part of apprenticeship programs and tuition may be reimbursed by or paid for outright by the student’s employer or union. There will be some variations in fees at each school, too, so be sure to review all of the costs involved.
You will also incur costs for books and tools, but those tools are yours to keep as you enter your chosen occupational field. All students who are interested in receiving federal (Pell Grant) and any state grants apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
In Missouri, electrician licenses are issued at the county level. However, most municipalities follow similar guidelines. For instance, the equivalent of a journeyman electrician license requires 8,000 hours, or four to five years of work experience, along with classroom training at a university, community college, or trade school. Most require candidates to have a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, some programs require students to pass pre-employment and random drug tests.
Level of Difficulty
Electrician training programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors as an electrical technician. The BLS says technical instruction for apprentices includes electrical theory, blueprint reading, mathematics, electrical code requirements, and safety and first-aid practices. Students may also receive specialized training related to soldering, communications, fire alarm systems, and elevators.
School Comparison: At a Glance
The accredited training schools listed in this article are part of Missouri’s college system. They typically offer students financial aid in the form of grants. Apprenticeships have limited openings for candidates, and many of the programs below are available only to students who participate in a registered apprenticeship. These electrical apprenticeship programs are intended to fulfill the required classroom training. After completing classroom training and (in most cases) 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, candidates can apply for the journeyman license exam.
State Technical College of Missouri
Offers an Electrical Technology program
Metropolitan Community College
Offers an Industrial Electrical program where students can earn a certificate or Associate of Applied Science degree
Offers an Industrial Electrical Maintenance Technician apprenticeship
Offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Technology
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center
Offers a 36-hour Electrical Trades program
Offers several electrical programs, including Electrical Systems Design Technology, Electrical Automation Technology, Control Systems Technology, and Alarm Systems Technology
Steps for Enrollment in Missouri
Every training program and technical college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with you visiting the school’s website and applying for admission online. Some require that you pay an application fee and provide several documents. In general, the application process includes the following steps:
Complete your application.
Pay the application fee (if applicable).
Provide proof of residency to qualify for in-state tuition.
Have sealed official high school transcript or GED scores sent.
Submit placement test scores.
If applicable, apply for on-campus housing.
If you choose to start with an apprenticeship, you will want to contact the JATC, Local Union, or IEC or ABC chapter closest to you. Each organization has a slightly different application process, but the application requirements in general are:
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be a high school graduate, senior scheduled to graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, and an official transcript of their grades following submission of the application.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better or pass an aptitude test.
Pass a drug screen and criminal background checks.
Electrician Career Requirements in Missouri
To recap, Missouri electrician licenses are issued at a county or city level. However, most municipalities follow similar guidelines.
Generally speaking, you must meet ONE of the following requirements to take a basic electrical exam:
Five years/8,000 hours of full-time work experience, as well as 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom-based training.
Complete 8,000 hours of electrical trade work under the supervision of a licensed electrician, and earn an associate's degree in electrical technology or electrical engineering.
Provide proof of 4,000 hours of electrical trade work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician, and earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or electrical technology.
Complete 12,000 hours of electrical trade work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrical contractor, and submit verified documentation.
If you plan to do electrical work throughout the state of Missouri, you might consider obtaining the optional statewide electrical contractor license, which is available through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors. The licensing application fee is $200.
However, if you plan to work within one specific Missouri county, you can obtain an electrical contractor license within the county's specific jurisdiction. In St. Louis County, for instance, the St. Louis County Board of Electrical Examiners issues electrical contractor licenses. In that municipality, electrical contractor applicants must be at least 21 years old and need 12,000 hours or more of documented electrical trade experience.
Similar to licensing, renewal terms and continuing education requirements are specific to the county where you work as an electrician.
For a detailed explanation of Missouri’s electrical licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Missouri Electrical License.
Salaries for Electricians in Missouri
Before paying for technical education or completing a lengthy apprenticeship to become an electrician, you’ll want some idea of the potential return on your investment of time, effort, energy, and money. In other words, what can you expect to make as an electrical professional in Missouri? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median electrician salary in Missouri for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $51,500
Intermediate 2-4 years: $58,400
Senior 4-6 years: $65,300
Supervisor > 7 years: $96,500
For more information about electrician salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
To meet apprenticeship requirements in Missouri, you must have a high school diploma or GED. Interested applicants should apply directly to the company with which they’d like to apprentice.
Apprenticeship Missouri, a branch of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, maintains a list of companies offering apprenticeships for all trades, including electricians.
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) offer union-based apprenticeships for aspiring Missouri electricians. The Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater St. Louis, a nonunion trade group, offers apprenticeship programs through local merit shops.
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are training centers in neighboring Illinois, Arkansas, and Kansas.
Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois
Arkansas College of Electricity in Rogers, Arkansas
Wichita Electrical JATC in Wichita, Kansas
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as an electrician in Missouri. The opportunities are all around you.
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